LOCAL residents and councillors have teamed up to tackle bin woes at high-rise flats in the town centre - with many tenants at their wits’ end over the issues.

Tenants at Albion House, one of the Berneslai Homes-run high rises on Union Street are having to deal with full, unemptied bins.

The majority of residents, many over 80, within the 56 flats have had enough.

Tenants say that the corridors of the flats are full of bins due the fact they have nowhere else to put their waste.

There has been reports of a rat infestation in the area, causing distress to the locals.

It has also been reported that neighbouring properties are dumping their own waste at the site - making the issue even worse.

Central ward councillors Janine Moyes, Martin O’Donoghue and Nicola Sumner have now requested a meeting with the new Berneslai Homes chief executive, Stephen Feast.

They told the Chronicle: “Between us we have been raising resident concerns with Berneslai Homes for quite sometime. Residents, many who attend Buckley Church coffee morning and those we speak to at their flats, stated that they were at the end of their tether.

“It isn’t nice to see residents in their 80s and 90s having to deal with upset caused by rats around the bins and having to store their rubbish in the corridor or their flats.

“It stinks - literally.

“Our elderly residents shouldn’t be treated this way.

“There is talk others are coming to the high rises to dump their rubbish in the bins and fly tip.

“There is a camera installed by Berneslai Homes.

“We want assurances that the camera works, is regularly reviewed and can detect this illegal behaviour.

“We want a review of why these bins have been left in this state.

“Hopefully, our meeting with chief executive, Stephen Feast will help resolve these issues.”

Dave Fullen, executive director of customer and estate services at Berneslai Homes, said: “We understand how important it is to make sure tenants live in a clean, safe neighbourhood.

“Where issues with waste occur, we promptly investigate this, and work with Barnsley Council to investigate fly-tipping and cases where rubbish isn’t being disposed of properly.

“Where this occurs, we continue to work closely with tenants to monitor cases and provide a solution, including taking action against those who cause waste collection issues in line with our Antisocial Behaviour Policy.”